Questionwe're due for a freeze this weekend. I planted 24" box trees, 2 shamel ash and a Hong Kong Orchid. They've been in the ground for about 6 weeks now. Should I cover them or do anything to protect from freeze?
AnswerThe box tree and the ash should not have any problems IF you mulch around them with about 3 inches deep of mulch. This will keep the roots from freezing.
The Hong Kong Orchid tree is a warm weather tree and it may have problems with the cold. The best thing you can do is mulch around it to keep the roots from freezing and hope for the best. A hard freeze may kill back the branches IF the tree is small you could cover it with a tarp during the freezing temperatures and take the tarp off when the temperature warms. In the US these trees are grown in the southern part of Florida, extreme southern Texas and in Southern California.
